You Can Be Yourself With MeAlmost from the beginnings of our
organization, ALGBTICAL has adopted as its unofficial theme or slogan,
the phrase, "You Can Be Yourself With Me." It is a sincere message
of compassion and affirmation to our clients that they will be treated
with dignity and respect.

More recently, ALGBTICAL has sought to
also communicate to its clients and the general public the label,
"Affirming Counselors," to further emphasize the importance of that
theme in the ongoing work they do.

Moreover, ALGBTICAL continues to promote
its members as "Advocates, Allies, and Activists."

ALGBTICAL counselors are competent and ethical.
They are committed to
serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community with
integrity and professionalism. They adhere to ACA and ALCA Codes
of Ethics.

ALGBTICAL counselors provide professional
and compassionate advising, therapy, consultation, and counseling to
LGBT students and clients in a manner that is sensitive, respectful, affirming,
supportive, and non-judgmental.

ALGBTICAL counselors are proud to be advocates,
allies, and activists in
behalf of the issues and concerns of their LGBT students and clients.

ALGBTICAL counselors assist their students
and clients in the coming-out process. They want their students and
clients to know that they are accepted for who they are. They can be
themselves. They do not need to hide who they are. They do not need to
guard their speech. They can be open about themselves and speak freely
about aspects of their lives.

ALGBTICAL counselors do not consider
homosexuality a choice. Nor do they consider it a disorder or a
disease. They do not consider their clients sick, confused, or
sinful.
They do not consider homosexuality unnatural or immoral. They do
not think that LGBT people need to be converted, cured, or repaired.

ALGBTICAL counselors avoid attitudes and
behavior that are oppressive to LGBT persons, including homophobia and
heterosexism.

ALGBTICAL counselors
are educated professionals. Their perspectives on LGBT issues are
based on solid medical, psychological, sociological, therapeutic, and
scientific research.

ALGBTICAL counselors
are informed. They are aware of the history and culture of LGBT
people. They know the struggles and affirmations of the LGBT
community. They understand the issues and concerns of LGBT
individuals.

ALGBTICAL counselors
help others understand the importance of equality, fairness, tolerance
and mutual respect. They raise awareness and build bridges by actively,
publicly, and courageously practicing acceptance of and support for LGBT
people and speaking out in their behalf.

ALGBTICAL counselors defend and protect LGBT people. They support efforts to end the oppression of lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender persons. They seek to safeguard the rights
of LGBT people. They oppose the discrimination,
prejudice, harassment, hatred, and violence that LGBT people are
subjected to.

Straight But Not Narrow

ALGBTICAL counselors may be part of the LGBT population or they may be
straight. Regardless of a counselor's personal sexual orientation,
he or she is expected to affirm LGBT clients in the same manner as any
client.

Many ALGBTICAL
counselors are LGBT allies. An LGBT ally is a heterosexual
(straight person) who believes in and advocates for homosexual (LGBT)
rights. In relation to issues of oppression, an ally is defined as “a
person who is a member of the ‘dominant’ or ‘majority’ group who works
to end oppression in his or her personal and professional life through
support of, and as an advocate with and for, the oppressed population.”
A LGBT ally is “a person, often straight, who is accepting and
supportive of the LGBT community.”

Everyone has the opportunity to be an ally and a friend at home, school,
church and work. A straight ally can merely be someone who is supportive
and accepts the LGBT person, or a straight ally can be someone who
personally advocates for equal rights and fair treatment.

Allies are some of the most effective and powerful voices of the LGBT
movement. Not only do allies help people in the coming-out process, they
also help others understand the importance of equality, fairness,
tolerance and mutual respect. They raise awareness and build bridges by
actively, publicly, and courageously practicing acceptance of and
support for LGBT people and speaking out in their behalf.

Affirming Counselors

ALGBTICAL counselors are proud to label themselves as LGBT-friendly or
LGBT-affirming. They would like for their clients and prospective
clients to know that they will be treated with respect.

ALGBTICAL counselors are affirming
counselors. They accept their clients as they are. Their
clients can be themselves, knowing that the counselor will affirm,
accept, and celebrate them.

LGBT clients need to have confidence in
their counselor. They want to meet with a counselor that they know will be
open, empathetic, understanding, affirming, supportive, and
non-judgmental. Given the general atmosphere of prejudice that
exists, it is understandable that LGBT clients may feel a need to verify that their
counselor is LGBT-friendly.

ALGBTICAL is pleased to
offer their LGBT-friendly
counselor list of practitioners who are knowledgeable of LGBT issues and who are sensitive to
the needs and concerns of LGBT individuals.

If you are seeking an LGBT-affirming counselor for yourself or for
another person, please contact us.